Work holder



E. PLUMB WORK HOLDER Nov. 7, 1950 Filed July 11, 1946 INVENTOR Enw N W PL UMB BY I ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1950 :UNITEDTISTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,528,909 WORK Ho'LnEB Edwin W. Plumb, Morris, Conn. Application July 11, 1946 S erial No. 682,747

2 Claims.

nection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment'of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the work holder of the invention in place on the table of a drill press;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevational view looking from the lower edge of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevational view looking from the right into the attaching bracket or support;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view taken as suggested by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the toggle locking means for the movable jaw of the work clamp.

The present invention provides a means for holding work whereby drill press operations on the work may be safely and expeditiously per formed. At present, where small holes are to be drilled, it is a common practice for the operator to hold the work in his hand to prevent the work from turning with the drill. Where large'r holes are to be drilled, the Work is either strapped to the table of the drill press or is held in a vise or jig which may be clamped in place on the table or which may be of sufficient mass to resist the twisting action of the drill. Thus, at the present time, the drilling of holes of moderate size is hazardous when the work is held by hand and is a slow process when each piece of work is clamped to the table of the drill press.

My invention provides means for overcoming the above difficulties and comprises a device which may be conveniently attached to the work table of a drill press and may be readily used to restrain work from turning with the drill of the press. The work holder of the invention is constructed to provide for ready shifting to various positions over thedrill press table whereby bar I8.

to bring successive hole locations under the drill. The present construction permits of the work being almost instantly positioned as desired on or over the work table and is attachable to practically any type of drill press and will efiectively prevent revolving of the work under the cutting action of the drill.

Referring in detail to the drawing, at II) is generally shown a portion of the bed of a drill press to which is attached the work holder of the invention. The work holder includes a support or mounting means II comprising an elongated body I2, one end portion of which is held to the table Ill by machine screws or the like Projecting from one side of the body I2 are .a pair ofparallel lugs l4 and I5. Located between the lugs I4 and I5 is a bar I6 mounted for turning movement about its own longitudinal axis. This bar while turnable relative to the body I2 is part of the mounting means or support II, as will appear. The mounting for the bar I6 may take various forms but in the drawing such mounting is shown as comprising pivot screws ll threaded into the lugs and having smooth journal portions entering the ends of the bar in line with its longitudinal axis.

In parallel spaced relation to the bar I6 is a bar I 8. A pair of parallel links I9 and 20 are pivoted at their respective ends to the bars I6 and I 8. Thus, shoulder screws 2I serve to pivotally connect the inner ends of the links I9 and 20 with the bar I6 while similar screws 22 serve to connect the outer ends of said links with the The assembly just described, including the parallel bars I6 and I8 and the parallel links I 9 and 20 pivoted to such bars, comprises a structure in the nature of a pantograph.

Mounted on the bar I8 for turning movemen relative to the longitudinal axis thereof, is a member generally designated 23. Such means comprises a more or less diamond-shaped plate 2- 1 having depending end portions or lugs 25 and 26 disposed at the respective ends of the bar I8. A pair of screws or pivot means 27, similar to the screws H, are threaded into the lugs 25 and v26 and have their inner end portions entering A secondpair of spaced parallel links 28 and 29 are provided and at corresponding ends, such links are pivotally attached to spaced portions of the plate-24 as-by the shoulder screws 30 and 3| respectively. At their other ends, the links '28 3 and 29 are pivotally attached, by means of shoulder screws 32 and 33 respectively, with the fixed jaw 34 of a quick-acting clamp generally designated 35. The jaw 34, together with the links 28 and 29 and the plate 24, forms a second pantograph-like means.

Rigid with the jaw 34 and disposed at right angles thereto is a handle or shank 36 along which a movable jaw .31 of the clamp 35 is slidable. As shown, shank 36 passes through the inner end portion of the jaw 37 and the latter extends at right angles to said shank and in parallel relation with the jaw 34. In addition to the mentioned jaws and shank, the quick-acting clamp 35 includes a clamping member 38 also slidab'le on the handle 36 at the outer side of jaw 31 and having an opening or slot into which enters a foot portion 39 of a bell crank lever 40. .Apivot 4| through the toe portion of the foot or arm 39 of the bell crank lever '40 pivotally connects the latter with the member 38." Additionally, a .pin 42 is carried by the member 38 and passes through an arcuate slot 42a in the arm of the bell crank. 'At its toe portion said arm .39 is enlarged providing acam portion as at 43 adapted t'obeclamped against an edge of the handle 36, as will be described. I

The second arm 44 of bell crank extends outwardly with respect to member 38 and pivoted to the outer end of said arm is a clamping handle 45. The pivot for such purpose is designated 46 and passes through the handle intermediate the ends of the latter. A link 4'! is pivoted to the jaw 37 at 43 and to the inner end of the clamp handle 45 as at 49 This link connection of the handle with the jaw 31 provides a sort of tog l construction i w ich the'pivot .49 -.is movable-up and down or in -and out, to and through a dead center position with respect to the pivots 4,6 and 48.

. When the handle 45is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the clamping member .38 is locked to the shank 36 as the cam portion 43 is forced against such shank. On rocking. movement of the handle (or leyer) 45in the opposite direction the pin 4-9 is shifted downwardly as the bell crank .40 is rocked on ivot 4| to carry its'cam portion 43 into a released position with respect to the shank 36.

A .coil spring 51] is anchored at its respective ends to its pins .5! and .52 carried respectively to the jaw 3'! and the member 3.8. This spring tends to keep the member .38 against the outer side of the jaw 31 so that the jaw and member are kept in parallel relation and at right angles to the shank 36. Thus'both the jaw'and member are prevented from tilting or canting or accidentally binding on the shank 36.

When the device is to be used, a piece of work, as the block 5.3 shown by broken lines, is disposed between the jaws 34 and 31. Then the jaw '31 is shifted along the shank 36 until it engages the work. Thereafter the lever 45 is rocked to the position of Fig. 1 wedging the cam portion '43 of the bell crank against the shank 36 and locking the jaw 31 in clamping relation to the work. A dditionally as such lever is so rocked the pin 49 is carried through a dead center position to a point outwardly with respect to the pivots '46 and'48 so that there is no danger of the work being accidentally released.

Furthermore, as this action takes place there i a slight further thrust forwardly onthe jaw 31 insuring very tight clamping of the work. In

4 addition to the function above pointed out, the spring permits of locking of the movable jaw on the shank when there is no work against which the movable jaw may be forced. Without the spring there is a tendency of the jaw 3'! to slide on the shank even though lever 45 is in locking position when work is not being clamped or is only being loosely clamped. The spring puts enough load onto the jaw to permit of the locking of the latter under such conditions.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a structure in the nature of .a double pantograph comprising a compound linkage in which the jaw 34 will always be at right angles to the bar [2 or the bar l6 and wherein somewhat above the table as on guides or bars,

this is easily accomplished since .the entire device may be raised to a position above the table. This is as shown in Fig.2 and such positioning of the device is permissible owing to the fact that the bar I6 of the support eor mounting means H is mounted 'f01 turning movement on the pivot screwsll. I A

since the quick-acting clamp of the-invention grips the work at its edges, it is possible to have the drill pass entirely "through the work at any point. Further, the w.ork; may.- be freely moved to bring successive holelo cations .under the drill without releasing and reclamping it. The work is free to align itself Within? drill after a hole is started thereby tending to remed any tendency of" the drilled holes-to wander when carelessly loflhtfid, Additionally, the ease of operation of the device adapts it for either one piece jobs or long production runsand encouragesthe operator to properly clamp his work instead of risking broken tools and injured fingers as ;heretofore.

Having thu t forth the natu -pf my inv ntion, what I claim is:

1. A quick acting .clam-p comprising a jaw and a shank :rigid with said jaw, .a'jaw movable along said shank toward and from'said fixed jaw, means to clamp the movable .jaw. to said shank,

said means including a clamping: member slidable .on said shank in :the rear of said movable jaw, a sbell crank having an arm entering .said

:member for engagement with said shank, said arm having .a cam-shaped .end portion, means pivoting the cam-shaped endzportion of said arm to said :member, said :bell "crank .having a slot .b i a rfl s ro kedlin o. a, ca m n en a ement withthe shank'toiock'the member thereto and further movement of the handle in the same direction carries its pivotal connection with the link through a dead center position to force the movable jaw tighter against a piece of work between the fixed and movable jaws and lock said movable jaw in clamped position.

2. A quick acting clamp comprising a jaw and a shank rigid with said jaw, a jaw movable along said shank toward and from said fixed jaw, a clamping member encircling said shank and slidable along the same in the rear of said movable jaw, said member having an opening therethrough from one edge to said shank, a lever having its inner end portion entering said member through said opening, means pivoting said lever inner end portion to said member, a handle pivoted intermediate its ends to the outer end portion of said lever, and a link pivoted at its respective ends to said movable jaw and the adjacent end of said handle whereby on rocking said handle in one direction the inner end portion of said lever is released with respect to the shank and the movable jaw and member may be shifted along the shank and on rocking of REFERENCES crrED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 606,317 Van Schoick June 28, 1898 670,890 Burgess Mar. 26,. 1901 722,677 Crippen et al Mar. 17, 1903 2,136,140 Langsner Nov. 8, 1938 2,236,881 Rusnak Apr. 1, 1941 2,260,157 Zwick Oct. 21, 1941 2,276,819 Boehmer Mar. 17, 1942 2,369,346 Gearhart Feb. 13,. 1945 

